Scholarlink

Background <p>Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS) effectively reduce relapse activity but have limited impact on chronic progression and neurodegeneration. Non-pharmacological interventions such as structured exercise or the Wim Hof Method (WHM- which includes breathing exercises, cold exposure, and meditation), may offer complementary immunomodulatory and neuroprotective benefits.</p> Objectives <p>To compare the effects of WHM and a lifestyle intervention (LIFE; structured physical activity and nutritional counseling) on systemic inflammation and neurodegeneration biomarkers in patients with MS.</p> Methods <p>In this randomized, prospective pilot trial, 60 MS patients (2017 McDonald criteria, EDSS 1.0–5.5) were allocated to WHM, LIFE, or control (CTRL) for 12 weeks. Serum cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A, IL-18), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Mixed repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni correction was applied.</p> Results <p>Complete datasets were obtained and analyzed for 43 participants (12 WHM, 17 LIFE, 14 CTRL; power= 0.81). Both interventions significantly reduced IL-17A and IL-18 (p&lt;0.001), indicating attenuation of Th17-related inflammation. WHM further decreased IFN-γ, while LIFE lowered IL-8. No significant changes were observed for IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p70, NfL, or GFAP. Both interventions were well tolerated, with no treatment-related adverse events.</p> Conclusions <p>Both WHM and lifestyle modification demonstrated comparable short-term anti-inflammatory effects in MS, supporting their safety and feasibility as adjunctive strategies to DMT. Although neurodegeneration biomarkers remained unchanged, the consistent reduction of IL-17A and IL-18 highlights their potential to modulate smoldering inflammation. Larger, longer-term trials are warranted to determine their sustained effects on disease progression.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Targeting low-grade inflammation in multiple sclerosis through the Wim Hof method or lifestyle intervention: a pilot comparative study

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月26日

查看全文
  • Darina Slezáková,
  • Louise Mária Sabolová,
  • Peter Marček,
  • Pavol Kadlic,
  • Ivan Hric,
  • Libuša Nechalová,
  • Viktor Bielik,
  • Michal Páleník,
  • Michal Pastorek,
  • Peter Olej,
  • Norbert Žilka,
  • Jozef Hanes,
  • František Jurčaga,
  • Michal Minár

摘要

Background

Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) in multiple sclerosis (MS) effectively reduce relapse activity but have limited impact on chronic progression and neurodegeneration. Non-pharmacological interventions such as structured exercise or the Wim Hof Method (WHM- which includes breathing exercises, cold exposure, and meditation), may offer complementary immunomodulatory and neuroprotective benefits.

Objectives

To compare the effects of WHM and a lifestyle intervention (LIFE; structured physical activity and nutritional counseling) on systemic inflammation and neurodegeneration biomarkers in patients with MS.

Methods

In this randomized, prospective pilot trial, 60 MS patients (2017 McDonald criteria, EDSS 1.0–5.5) were allocated to WHM, LIFE, or control (CTRL) for 12 weeks. Serum cytokines (IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A, IL-18), neurofilament light chain (NfL), and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were assessed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Mixed repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni correction was applied.

Results

Complete datasets were obtained and analyzed for 43 participants (12 WHM, 17 LIFE, 14 CTRL; power= 0.81). Both interventions significantly reduced IL-17A and IL-18 (p<0.001), indicating attenuation of Th17-related inflammation. WHM further decreased IFN-γ, while LIFE lowered IL-8. No significant changes were observed for IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12p70, NfL, or GFAP. Both interventions were well tolerated, with no treatment-related adverse events.

Conclusions

Both WHM and lifestyle modification demonstrated comparable short-term anti-inflammatory effects in MS, supporting their safety and feasibility as adjunctive strategies to DMT. Although neurodegeneration biomarkers remained unchanged, the consistent reduction of IL-17A and IL-18 highlights their potential to modulate smoldering inflammation. Larger, longer-term trials are warranted to determine their sustained effects on disease progression.